Storming games for the Bulls: Juandre Kruger
Morne Steyn kicked all his team's points as the Bulls battled to an 18-13 Super Rugby victory over the Sharks at Loftus Versfeld on Friday.
All the points were scored in the second half after the scores were locked at 0-0 at half time.
The Bulls used their traditional kicking game to devastating effect as Steyn peppered the Sharks back three with testing high balls while lock Juandre Kruger ruled at the line-outs, securing precious possession under pressure and stealing a handful of throws off the visitors.
A brutally physical but somewhat disjointed opening period left the scoreboard unmoved as the opposing place-kickers missed no less than five attempts at goal between them.
The normally ultra-reliable Steyn missed two very kickable penalties, as did Patrick Lambie, while Riaan Viljoen was inches off target with a 60m effort.
The Bulls made a comedy of handling errors, making 11 mistakes with the ball in hand in the first stanza.
The Sharks on the other hand found themselves on the wrong side of referee Jonathan Kaplan's whistle because of undisciplined play.
It was a different story in the second half however as Steyn landed points from all over the park to build a 12-point lead for the hosts.
The Pretoria-based side enjoyed most of the possession and with it the territory in the second period but they struggled to pierce the Sharks' defences.
A late try from replacement loose forward Jacques Botes, following Lwazi Mvovo's initial break, dragged the Sharks back into contention however, setting up a grandstand finish in the process.
But despite dominating the closing stages, the visitors fell just short in the end and will have to head back to Durban with nothing more than a losing bonus point.
A disappointed Sharks captain Keegan Daniel was left to reflect on another narrow loss to the Bulls.
"It's always a tough game at Loftus, we weren't clinical enough in the first half, but it was a pretty good game overall," said Daniel after the final whistle.
"They got some easy points from us, our discipline let us down and we'll need to look at those silly mistakes that let us down. The boys never gave up, hats off to them and in the end it could have gone either way."
The scorers:
For the Bulls:
Pens: Steyn 5
Drop: Steyn
For the Sharks:
Try: Botes
Con: Lambie
Pens: Lambie 2
Bulls: 15 Zane Kirchner, 14 Akona Ndungane, 13 Johann Sadie, 12 Francois Venter, 11 Bjorn Basson, 10 Morne Steyn, 9 Francois Hougaard, 8 Pierre Spies (c), 7 Jaques Potgieter, 6 Deon Stegmann, 5 Juandre Kruger, 4 Flip van der Merwe, 3 Werner Kruger, 2 Chiliboy Ralepelle, 1 Dean Greyling.
Replacements: 16 Willie Wepener, 17 Frik Kirsten, 18 Wilhelm Steenkamp, 19 CJ Stander, 20 Jano Vermaak, 21 Louis Fouche, 22 JJ Engelbrecht.
Sharks: 15 Riaan Viljoen, 14 Louis Ludik, 13 JP Pietersen, 12 Tim Whitehead, 11 Lwazi Mvovo, 10 Patrick Lambie, 9 Frederic Michalak, 8 Ryan Kankowski, 7 Marcell Coetzee, 6 Keegan Daniel (c), 5 Anton Bresler, 4 Steven Sykes, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Dale Chadwick.
Replacements: 16 Craig Burden, 17 Wiehahn Herbst, 18 Ross Skeate, 19 Jacques Botes, 20 Charl McLeod, 21 Meyer Bosman, 22 Paul Jordaan.
Referee: Jonathan Kaplan (South Africa)
Comments
letsgoboks says...
Good win for the Bulls!
Posted 09:29 27th February 2012
melkdave says...
Well had a crash while posting so now ive watched the games (some not all lol 6Ns matches prioity )ill post . As i started to say the Bulls-Sharks game was very sloppy and comparded to the Highlanders -Chiefs game they looked very pedantic .The Reds-Tahs game i only saw some of the 1st half but again both teams looked very pedantic and ordinary.On that edvidance i wonder if any teams from SAor Australia will lift the trophy this year .Maybe to early to say that and i sincerly hope so otherwise its going to be a predictable championship.Cant comment on the other Friday games as they we not shown live in the UK
Posted 23:06 25th February 2012
Darkside says...
Well well has it crossed anyones mind that the rugby was outstanding all round but the refs spoilt most of the games due to poor decisions and overlooked basic refing errors. Look at Zane and Lambies 22m kicks both stepped on the line except Zanes kick saw the bulls back on their 22 whereas lambies was out on the mark mmm dodgy. The try well that's a whole new debate as the ball was handed forward and yet left to play on despite the very next pass also being forward. I think all teams played their hearts out and provided good entertainment but they all have serious work to do. Refs need to be given harsher penelties for poor refing. As for the arrogance of some Aussies on here nothing has happened to SA rugby do you honestly want to base your arrogance of how good your rugby is based on the WC play offs again refing errors. I suggest you take your arrogance and shove it SA plays by far more advanced rugby oh let's see we have won the WC 2 times in a shorter period than Aussies ever did. But admittedly NZ are defo the Rugby superpower house of the world and deserved to be crowned champs
Posted 21:17 25th February 2012
jappers1983 says...
Did you see McLeod last season? That's a good enough reason for starting with Michalak, and if you're looking for someone to blame for the defeat then look no further than B Du Plessis. His indiscipline at the breakdown was atrocious.
Posted 09:34 25th February 2012
martinmarais78 says...
Why the Sharks started with poor foreign import Freddie Frog instead of a much better home grown local talent McLeod, just showed again their poor judgement and 0 interest in developing future stars for the bok team.
Sharks get rid of your foreign imports and then maybe you would make some inrows in Super rugby with pure pride and passion instead of money minded players!
Posted 03:59 25th February 2012
martinmarais78 says...
Trinuts, thanks for reminding me once again why the rest of the world hates the arrogant Aussies!
Posted 03:42 25th February 2012
turboboy says...
Not the greatest of games but I think both sides were obsessed with not losing hence kicking the ball away so much and the fierce defence. Games at altitude don't seem as exciting from an attacking point of view because teams kick so much or have the chance of 3 points more easily with any penalty around the half way. Sharks at least tried to throw it around but Bulls defence was up to it. Kaplan constantly missed attacking players hitting the ruck from the side to clear out. Victor should get his boots back on because his input into the commentary team was amateur hour big time.
Posted 00:55 25th February 2012
ben7 says...
@trinats that was the most intense match of the weekend so far. The reason it was 0-0 at halftime was because of their amazing defense. Id watch that 1 million times over rather that watch the brumbies force game again, something about aussie derbies just bores the sh*t out of me.
Posted 23:17 24th February 2012
ben7 says...
it was a 65 metre kick from viljoen (not 60) and it had the distance! SA really have some amazing long distance kickers. francois steyn, riaan viljoen, johan goosen!
Posted 23:13 24th February 2012
JayStarr says...
What a BORE fest...
They were playing first round Currie Cup rugby instead of Super Rugby. Rust can not be blamed... that was just a poor game from both. Where was Pierre Spies? Did he touch the ball even once? Did JP Pietersen do anything RIGHT? No no no... they'll need to get much better than this if they want to stand a chance at making the playoffs.
But on the other hand, this is good news for the Stormers! My fears of them being a little rusty is nothing in comparison to where the Sharks are at at the moment... They're REALLY missing Beast, Alberts and Deysel.
And I'm sure the Lions will be licking their lips too...
Can't wait for tomorrow's games!
Posted 23:10 24th February 2012
Sillysonofa says...
martinmarais78.. with the Bulls record of poaching under age players from other provinces and taking the cream of Western Province youngsters this last year, you're one to talk!
Posted 21:21 24th February 2012
melkdave says...
Well have to say it was a very sloppy first half by both teams .But it did improve second half into a fairly descent game..Unfortunatly we in the UK
Posted 21:14 24th February 2012
NHsaints says...
Juandre Kruger...I had that man marked down as the perfect replacement for matfield when he retired (obviously he was never going to make the bulls or bok squad with matfield or botha still around) even when he was back with the Saints...he was so good in the loose and the lineout it seemed inevitable and then he dipped below the radar for a couple of years after moving back to SA (assumably with the hope of breaking into the bulls first XV and then the SA squad) but now it looks like he's back and I'm glad of it...once a Saint always a Saint (yes that even includes Ashton)...
Posted 20:24 24th February 2012
martinmarais78 says...
AWESOME, Kaplan tried his best to spoil things at the end, but tonight just showed again why the Fish heads will never win it. They simply just dont have it in them. The Durbs management corps should start to realise now that money cant buy you a Super trophee...
Bulls should have won by +10
Posted 19:09 24th February 2012